Spiritual Apocalypse

The topic of the best Monstrosity has already appeared in my reviews, but - surprisingly - in the case of "Spiritual Apocalypse" such conclusions seem to be the most rational, although at the beginning this disc may make...completely opposite impression. But well, there is something in that! The fifth album by Monstrosity brings a lot of changes (sometimes quite controversial) in the context of the previous style, and at the same time all these novelties (about which in a moment) are closed in traditionally death metal structures at a really high level. In the so-called meanwhile, the line-up has also changed (vocalist Mike Hrubovcak and guitarist Mike English have joined the group), but Lee Harrison's band has already got used to it, so there is no need to extend it. Time for the essence of "Spiritual...", i.e. music.

The music, as I mentioned, has changed a lot. Compared to "Rise To Power", Monstrosity's style has moved to a similar area as Deicide in 2006, i.e. more brutal and technical, but at the same time with much more melody and "care". At first, these changes may create an insurmountable barrier, or even a certain misunderstanding of the chosen direction. Fortunately, the more a listener delves into the "Spiritual Apocalypse", the more difficult it's to imagine a better setting for these sounds. Paradoxically, it's quite fast to realize that there is not so much heavy metal melody here (indeed!, mostly only in terms of solos) and it does not disturb the deathy side of this music (and diversifies it sensibly). You get here, for example, a lot of awesome riffs (e.g. in "Apostles Of The Endless Night", "The Bloodline Horror", "Within Divisions Of Darkness" or "Sacred Oblivion"), relatively a lot of brutality on the fastest paces (mainly due to a large number of blasts), an interesting atmosphere (varied nicely with the keys), interesting technique and well-matched vocals of Hrubovcak (growl-squared a la Glen Benton). The music on "Spiritual..." did not lose its tone at all, it has both a brutality and an appropriate sense of melody - and this is what this approach to composing is all about.

So it turns out that "Spiritual Apocalypse" is both a new beginning for Monstrosity and a very tough nut to crack. Well, on their fifth album, Americans managed to perfectly combine traditional death metal sounds with a heavy metal melodiousness and technique, and at the same time, they hit the wall when it comes to continue this style. After all, we had to wait 11 years for the continuation of this style and it did not rise to the same level as the "original album".

Originally on: https://subiektywnymetal.blogspot.com/2022/03/monstrosity-spiritual-apocalypse-2007.html

Another album, another lineup. That seems to be Monstrosity's mentality because for their fifth album, "Spiritual Apocalypse," both guitarists were replaced by Mark English, and Jason Avery was replaced by Mike Hrubovcak. English previously wrote and performed a guitar solo for track seven on Monstrosity's previous album, 'Rise to Power." With the new lineup comes their new sound: fairly straightforward death metal.

Despite taking a normal, modern death metal route, there is still technicality to Monstrosity's sound. In fact, this album is basically a combination of "Imperial Doom" and "In Dark Purity." It has the death metal vibe of their debut along with the some riffing style of their 1999 album. Along with this, they threw in a modern death metal sound, and actually pulled it off better than modern death metal bands. Shocker.

Musically, this album is surprisingly great. I'm not a fan of modern death metal unless it's technical death metal. I can tolerate some modern brutal death metal, but not much. But modern death metal without any technical or brutal influence? That's not for me. This album may have technicality, but there is also originality. In other words, if this were just a modern death metal album without the technicality, I might still enjoy it. Songs like "Apostles of the Endless Night," "The Bloodline Horror," and "Remnants of Divination" remind me why I like this band so much. They have these amazing flares of energy and creativity, each one a melting pot of ideas that are all perfectly executed. And the best part is they're all spread out on the album, making it balanced.

However good the riffs on these tracks are, some songs on this album are lacking in this area. Tracks like "Firestorm" and "Within Divisions of Darkness," while having good riffs, lack what makes every other song on here so great. In conclusion, they sound like filler. They are not bad songs by any means, but they do not impress.

The solos are better on this album than any Monstrosity album before this. They're fast and shreddy while still showing emotion and feeling. They aren't just there because they have to be, and they're not there to show off. They're there to give the songs flavor and depth, and that's exactly what they do.

"Spiritual Apocalypse" is a good return for Monstrosity. It was another comeback album for them, and it was much better than anyone expected. This album has stellar production, great musicianship, and cool album artwork, something that this band clearly forgot the existence of since "Imperial Doom." All jokes aside, Monstrosity continue to release good music, even in the early 2000s when everything in music other than brutal and technical death metal was pretty much garbage.

Overall Rating: 87%

Originally written for themetalvoid.wordpress.com

Though the two are not quite the same, I'd liken Monstrosity's 5th full-length Spiritual Apocalypse to Deicide's surprising Stench of Redemption from the year prior. Both show a heightened sensibility towards melody and songwriting that establish their acts for a new century, without abandoning the brutal throughput of their history. Spiritual Apocalypse reveals a willingness to explore and grow, while maintaining the characteristics that had to its day marked the band as one of the most potent second stringers in the Florida scene: top notch riffing and lead capabilities, dynamic Lee Harrison drumming, sleek production values, rhythmic variation and enough moments of atmosphere to carry the listener into its aggressive, otherworldly space (the last being the most impressive).

Where Rise to Power was honestly pretty lackluster, Spiritual Apocalypse excels. You won't find yourself chewing your fingernails as you wait patiently for something exciting to happen. Nearly every track is infused with some stylish lead or ear jerking rhythm guitar that remains within the listener's mind, like the subtle and escalating acrobatics of "Apostles of the Endless Night", or the percussive punctuation of guitars and drums that inaugurates "The Inhuman Race". I can't get enough of the leads in "Spiritual Apocalypse" or "Sacred Oblivion"! Mark English, the band's new guitarist as of this album, simply knocks each of them out of the park, accumulating layers of rapture and revelation that cement Spiritual Apocalypse as the most 'musical' of Monstrosity's efforts.

He's not the only fresh blood here: Mike Hrubovcak of Vile steps in to add a more reactive admixture of snarls and growls than his predecessor, the effective yet monotonous Jason Avery. All told, Monstrosity are one of those few bands that can claim to have had three frontmen of note in their ranks, but Hrubovcak manages to honor his predecessors while wonderfully fitting himself into the semi-technical landscape of Harrison, English and bassist Mike Poggione. The mix is great, flush with all the other modern tech and brute death works in the field who actually care about such a thing, and the lyrics and composition are among the best of the band's career. Less snappy or flashy than Millenium, perhaps, but more intricate than In Dark Purity or Rise to Power. If asked to choose a favorite among the band's works, I might give the slight, invisible edge to the debut Imperial Doom, since I enjoy Corpsegrinder and the older atmosphere there, but I can't shake the feeling that they'd finally written its equal. Different, but about equal, and without a doubt one of the best Florida death metal albums of the 21st century to date.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Monstrosities have, previously to this record, released some of the most constructive, callous, useful and poignant of music in within their career. However, media and television based hypes regarding what people want to hear than what people want to listen to. When perpetrators such as these get to "comeback", it's utterly palpable and moronic not to see this as another mistake, were the band release their mediocre, industry influenced music.

This album is no exception, the production completely overdone and the guitar sounds similar to a mediocre metalcore band, unfocused and with zero brutality to it. Riffs embedded amongst each other without regard to any real innovation and originality like previous Monstrosity works, and the extensive right handed techniques utilized on the previous records as well (in particular I might say, to In Dark Purity) is eradicated. Structures are wearisome and fragmented with no interesting standard listen to even at times, catchy riffs layered out unto segments of a monotonous vibe reminiscent of mediocre death metal at best.

The guitar solos on this album, although highly technical and intricate, are placed were you expect them to. There is no denying the skill of each individual of this band alone, but indistinctness when writing music like this, or an influence from modern TV culture, becomes apparent even when musicians are as experienced as this. Bass doesn't even deserve a mention; it is completely inaudible despite the virtuous skill of Mike Poggoine.

However, there are some positive aspects on the album. The vocals, intricate and intelligent, Mike Hrubovcak is essentially the most focused member in this band at the moment, and drummer Lee Harrison is also highly skilled, and adds a tremendous amount of feeling to the drums, and never gets out of time or surfaces when he shouldn't.

This album delivers little potential and infact, little to worry about the future of Monstrosity, since this album displays perfectly that these musicians can only adhere to skill, yet completely ignore were the strength of death metal occurs in abstract, as opposed to pure wankery.